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Jens, There is a
later book then Kemps that has specific rigorous operational analysis of Seehunde
attacks and the number of successful attacks was found to be lower than Kemp’s
9 and may have been as low as 0 (can’t remember exactly). See Weapons
of Desperation by Lawrence Peterson, copyright 2006. Accounts by the Seehunde
operators speak of the stressful and trying conditions that they had to endure
in these small boats. If they had been a successful weapon, we would have
seen further development by various services after the war. R/Jay Respectfully, Jay K.
Jeffries Andros
Is., Bahamas Talk
sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.
- Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC) -----Original
Message----- Hi Jay "A
summary of Seehunde operations shows that there were 142 sorties which resulted
in the loss of nine ships totalling 18,451 tons sunk and three ships of
18,354 tons damaged. Against this thirty-five craft were lost. This is a
relatively low figure especially considering that twenty of these
losses were due to bad weather. Had their crews been better trained and with
more experience, a far higher total of shipping would have been sunk." [from
"Midget Submarines of the Second World War" by Paul Kemp] What I
have learned from this is that any small submarine operating 'offshore'
should include a small "wet and dry" chamber in connection with the hatch
(conning tower). This to avoid accidental scuttling of the entire
boat in bad weather. regards, Jens **
Correction: I was referring to the Seehunde, the Biber was an even ** greater ** death
trap. The design was abandoned and the Germans moved on to the **
Seehunde. ** ** ** If you
read the operational reports on Biber ops you will find that extend ** trips
by the submersibles were very trying on the crew if not deadly. The **
submersible usually operated awash, engine fumes often overcame the crew, **
amphetamines were required for the crew (1 and 2 day ops), dive control ** was ** spotty,
VERY cramped for space, etc. Very few if any successful attacks ** were
accomplished, in most cases the sub just disappeared.they were death ** traps. ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ The
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